Wilton's Antonio Brancato takes the ball to the hole against Danbury's Javan Hernandez during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Antonio Brancato takes the ball to the hole against Danbury's Javan Hernandez during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Diante Vines leaps to recieve a pass during their game against Wilton at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Diante Vines leaps to recieve a pass during their game against Wilton at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Scott Cunningham drives the ball to the hole during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Scott Cunningham drives the ball to the hole during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Denali Burton gets a slam dunk during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Denali Burton gets a slam dunk during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Scott Cunningham drives the ball to the hole during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Scott Cunningham drives the ball to the hole during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Cameron Snow puts up a layup during their game against Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Cameron Snow puts up a layup during their game against Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Scott Cunningham passes to an open man during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Scott Cunningham passes to an open man during their game against Danbury at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Denali Burton looks for an open man during the Hatters game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Denali Burton looks for an open man during the Hatters game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Scott Cunningham puts up a shot against Danbuy during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Scott Cunningham puts up a shot against Danbuy during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Nick Kronenberg takes the ball to the hole against Danbury's Keyon Moore during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Nick Kronenberg takes the ball to the hole against Danbury's Keyon Moore during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Wilton's Antonio Brancato puts up a shot against Danbury's Jordan Brown during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Wilton's Antonio Brancato puts up a shot against Danbury's Jordan Brown during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Danbury's Denali Burton grabs the rebound during their game at Wilton High School in Wilton, Conn. on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Photo: Chris Palermo / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Boys basketball: Big third quarter sends Danbury past Wilton

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WILTON—The Danbury boys basketball team hopes the next time it steps into the Zeoli Field House it produces the same result as it did Monday night.

The Hatters made a trip to the site of the FCIAC semifinals and final, overcoming a tough opponent in Wilton, 62-56, and running their record to 15-2. Danbury wrapped up its place in the FCIAC playoffs with the triumph, remaining third in the standings.

“It feels pretty good; this has been our goal throughout the season,” said Danbury senior Cameron Snow. “This is it, this is where we want to come back to play.”

Danbury delivered a championship-level effort on defense for most of the contest, particularly during a third quarter — which began with the teams tied 26-26 — where it wrestled control. After being stuck in a half-court malaise behind a strong Wilton defense in the first half, transition buckets and offensive put-backs helped Danbury get to a 44-33 lead.

“I thought we had a real good third quarter,” Danbury coach Casey Bock said. “I thought we came out with a little more energy; we pressured them, got steals and got some stops. We were able to push and get easy baskets on the other end.”

Forwards Jordon Brown (19 points) and Denali Burton (14) combined for 33 points for the Hatters, who used their size and athleticism on both ends of the court to frustrate the hosts.

“We took some highly contested shots that weren’t good shots,” Wilton coach Joel Geriak said. “But the main reason we lost the game is because we gave them way too many easy second-chance points in the second half. They’re athletic; we have to box out and we didn’t do that.”

Aided by a pressure defense, Wilton made a pair of charges in the fourth quarter but was unable to reduce the deficit to a single possession. A pair of free throws from Antonio Brancato made it 48-43 Danbury with four mintues remaining, and after the Hatters pushed the lead back up to double-digits, a pair of layups by Wilton made it 59-53 with a minute to play.

Burton then hit a foul shot and Wilton missed a pair of three-pointers before hitting one as time expired.

Nick Kronenberg led the Warriors with 19 points.

“We just played defense throughout the whole game,” Snow said. “The game plan was to not let Kronenberg hit three 3s at least. We didn’t want to help as much on drives because we knew they were going to kick it out. We had to stay locked in on our man.”

PLAYOFF CHASE

The scramble for playoff spots has entered the final stages as nine teams remain alive. Wilton entered the game tied with four teams at 8-4 — in the No. 6 through No. 9 positions — in the conference.

“Our backs are against the wall,” said Geriak of his team’s playoff status. “That’s where we are; we have three games left. We can’t scoreboard watch; we have to try to win our last three games and let the chips fall where they may.”

Cameron Snow, Danbury: Hit four 3-pointers for the Hatters — one in each quarter.

QUOTABLE

“We know the goal for us is to make a run in the playoffs,” Bock said. “We go through lapses where we don’t play the right way but overall we understand if we want to win a championship, we have to play the right way.”